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It's always disturbing to see writers and reporters refer to Jesus "El Matador" Chavez as the man that killed Leavander Johnson. To me, it's completely irresponsible. This is a hard game and everyone who steps into the ring knows the risks involved - the most extreme being death. By the time Johnson stepped into the ring as champion to defend against Chavez, he had already fought for and failed to capture a world title on multiple occasions. He had suffered the effects of years and years of punishment in the ring, in sparring, and putting his body through hell to be ready to fight whenever and wherever he had to.
In the fight with Chavez, Johnson did not look ready. He was a game and proud champion, but he looked like a fighter that had been through some of the worst that the business can offer. Yet who could claim that he didn't have the right to be there defending the championship he coveted his entire career on the big stage that is the dream of all fighters to grace?
Still, Chavez was landing heavy shots on Johnson early on and set the tone for what amounted to a lot of punishment that Johnson would go on to absorb before the fight's conclusion. those writers out there that allude to Chavez as having killed Johnson need to remember that before he died, few of those writers cared for Johnson's plight. He wasn't a fashionable fighter to cover. It's a shame that he had to die to get the attention due to a fighter that became a world champion against massive odds. Jesus Chavez didn't kill Leavander Johnson. Leavander Johnson chose his path and walked it to its end.
What is relevant here is the fact that although Johnson's family have fought their way past their grief and shown support to Chavez, there is no way that Chavez can forget Johnson, that night, and the fact that when he steps into the ring against Julio Diaz on Saturday night, Chavez will be doing so for the very first time since the Johnson tragedy.
Fighters have suffered knockout losses and continued their careers, showing obvious signs that the dramatic loss made them "gun-shy." That is, that they were unable to perform with the freedom they had in their careers before being stopped. Therefore, it's obvious that a fighter such as Chavez, having fought Johnson on the night of his death, would approach their craft very much affected by the memories of that experience.
Another obstacle for Chavez is the fact that he has been plagued by injuries that have not only kept him out of the ring for long periods, but also hindered his performances in the ring. Instances of Chavez being injured in the ring though, have undoubtedly proven his quality. Such was the case when he fought Erik Morales. A shoulder injury prevented Chavez from fully engagin Morales; regardless, Morales did not know of the injury, and though he put Chavez down more than once, he could not put him out, and was even out-boxed by Chavez at times.
One hopes that Chavez is able to fight on even terms with Diaz without another debilitation hampering him. If he is able to do that, he should be able to beat Diaz in what may be the fight of the night on Showtime. Tomasz Adamek figures to make an entertaining spectacle in defense of his world championship against Chad Dawson, but if you had to put your money on a candidate for the best confrontation of any fight card, you would be foolish not to consider two championship level Mexican lightweights.
In the fight with Chavez, Johnson did not look ready. He was a game and proud champion, but he looked like a fighter that had been through some of the worst that the business can offer. Yet who could claim that he didn't have the right to be there defending the championship he coveted his entire career on the big stage that is the dream of all fighters to grace?
Still, Chavez was landing heavy shots on Johnson early on and set the tone for what amounted to a lot of punishment that Johnson would go on to absorb before the fight's conclusion. those writers out there that allude to Chavez as having killed Johnson need to remember that before he died, few of those writers cared for Johnson's plight. He wasn't a fashionable fighter to cover. It's a shame that he had to die to get the attention due to a fighter that became a world champion against massive odds. Jesus Chavez didn't kill Leavander Johnson. Leavander Johnson chose his path and walked it to its end.
What is relevant here is the fact that although Johnson's family have fought their way past their grief and shown support to Chavez, there is no way that Chavez can forget Johnson, that night, and the fact that when he steps into the ring against Julio Diaz on Saturday night, Chavez will be doing so for the very first time since the Johnson tragedy.
Fighters have suffered knockout losses and continued their careers, showing obvious signs that the dramatic loss made them "gun-shy." That is, that they were unable to perform with the freedom they had in their careers before being stopped. Therefore, it's obvious that a fighter such as Chavez, having fought Johnson on the night of his death, would approach their craft very much affected by the memories of that experience.
Another obstacle for Chavez is the fact that he has been plagued by injuries that have not only kept him out of the ring for long periods, but also hindered his performances in the ring. Instances of Chavez being injured in the ring though, have undoubtedly proven his quality. Such was the case when he fought Erik Morales. A shoulder injury prevented Chavez from fully engagin Morales; regardless, Morales did not know of the injury, and though he put Chavez down more than once, he could not put him out, and was even out-boxed by Chavez at times.
One hopes that Chavez is able to fight on even terms with Diaz without another debilitation hampering him. If he is able to do that, he should be able to beat Diaz in what may be the fight of the night on Showtime. Tomasz Adamek figures to make an entertaining spectacle in defense of his world championship against Chad Dawson, but if you had to put your money on a candidate for the best confrontation of any fight card, you would be foolish not to consider two championship level Mexican lightweights.
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